Poubol Castle

Poubol Castle is the Catalan residence of the famous artist Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala. The ancient castle was erected in the 11th century and has been rebuilt many times. The last alterations in it were made by Dali himself. Wanting to please his wife, the artist skillfully painted the walls, creating in the interior rooms striking visual effects. At his request, antique furniture and bright baroque fabrics were selected for Chateau Poubol.

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Video: Château de Poubol

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Highlights

Having restored the ancient castle and garden, Dalí gave them as a gift to his wife in 1969. The relationship between them was full of contradictions. Gala graciously accepted the luxurious gift, but forbade her husband to appear here without her written permission. The great mystifier Dali ardently loved his wife. He was delighted by the condition she set and was happy to represent Gala in the form of an impregnable fortress.

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Since 1996, a memorial house-museum telling the story of Dali and Gala has been open inside the castle. The building itself, antique furniture and other belongings have been carefully restored. The lower floor has been converted into a store, and the other halls and rooms have been left in their original form, as Dali intended them to be. The museum welcomes tourists any day except Monday, starting at 10:00 am. Depending on the time of year, it closes between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

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In the cozy garden of Poubol Castle, surreal sculptures of thin-legged elephants can be seen among the greenery of trees and shrubs. By a small pond is a picturesque fountain, which is decorated with fourteen heads of the German composer Wagner, made of multicolored ceramics.

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History of Chateau Pubol

The first document mentioning the castle of Pubol dates back to 1065. According to this record, the fortifications came into the possession of the Counts of Barcelona. Then over the centuries, the owners of the castle and surrounding land were many wealthy Spaniards, and in 1969, the ancient buildings bought for his wife, the artist Dali.

The estate got to him severely neglected. The garden had not been tended for a long time, and it was overgrown with weeds. The walls of the building had cracks, and the ceilings were even partially collapsed. The restoration of the architectural monument was engaged in a friend of the artist – Emile Pignot. He fulfilled the wishes of the new owner and preserved the romantic charm of the castle. Pignot strengthened the supporting structures, but left a picturesque crack on the facade. In addition, the architect completely redesigned the Château de Poubol, building both high halls and miniature cozy rooms.

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Gala spent summers here all the last years of her life. In 1982, she passed away. Shortly afterward, by decree of King Juan Carlos of Spain, Dali was given the title Marquis de Pubol and moved into the castle. He lived there until 1984. Then there was a fire in the estate – the bed caught fire, and from it the whole room went up in flames. Perhaps the cause was a faulty lamp on the bed. Fortunately, the artist managed to crawl to the door. Robert Desharnais, Dali’s estate manager for many years, saved him from death by pulling him out of the burning room. During the fire, Dalí suffered severe burns. Cured, the artist left the castle and spent the rest of his days in Figueres.

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Gala Dali Museum

Travelers entering the Château de Poubol begin their tour with the inner courtyard, which houses the orange Datsun car that Dali and Gala were very fond of. The white ceremonial Armorial Hall is decorated with symbols of the estate’s past owners and has a painted ceiling. In this room is a gilded throne with a large “G” made for Gala by Dali himself.

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After exploring the kitchen, tourists enter the red bedroom, followed by a sleeping room decorated in blue colors. From here, visitors to the castle are escorted to the bathtub, the walls of which are decorated with painted tiles. The attic of the castle is the repository of numerous outfits of the mistress, and in the basement there is a tomb. Under one of the tombstones in the crypt rests Gala. It is noteworthy that her pictures are exhibited in almost all the rooms and halls of Pouboul.

The floor of the crypt is a large chessboard, on which stand unusual, like the artist himself, chess pieces. Poubol Castle houses the last unfinished work of the master of surrealism, which he began painting in 1983. The painting is called “Swallowtail” and is exhibited on an easel.

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A black Cadillac that belonged to Dalí can be seen in the garage. It was in this car that the artist transported his late wife’s body to Pouboul. There is also a fine horse-drawn carriage owned by the barons of Poubol, as well as a stuffed white horse.

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How to get there

Poubol Castle is located in the village of the same name, 18 km northeast of Girona and 123 km from Barcelona. Most tourists come here by bus, having bought sightseeing tours. Those who want to use public transportation, first have to come by bus to Girona, and then change to a bus going to the village of La Pera. From there, it is a 2km walk to Poubol. There are also electric trains from Barcelona several times a day to the Flaça station, which is located 4 km from Poubol Castle. It is easy to get from the station to your destination by cab.

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